After two overtime escapes in five days, there finally will be some rest for the weary Houston Texans. With the extended time before its next game, the AFC's best team, now 10-1, must use it to figure out how to get out of its defensive slump.

Thursday's 34-31 road victory over the Detroit Lions was similar to how the Texans survived at home Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars. It required another great fourth-quarter comeback from quarterback Matt Schaub and the offense — and added help from the officials on Justin Forsett's 81-yard third-quarter scoring run that wasn't a touchdown.

What the Lions did was light up the Texans' defense for 525 yards in nearly a full five quarters. This week, it was Matthew Stafford dealing for Detroit, picking the Texans apart while going 31-for-61 passing for 441 yards and two TDs. Last week, it was a dormant Jaguars offense that arose in a 43-37 overtime loss with backup quarterback Chad Henne throwing for 354 yards and four TDs.

It was no surprise that usually uncoverable Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson had a big game, with eight catches for 140 yards. Johnathan Joseph, the Texans' best cover cornerback, was out with a hamstring injury. But the problems went beyond Joseph's fill-in, even though Alan Ball struggled one-on-one against Johnson behind the Texans' aggressive 3-4 scheme.

Just like with the Jaguars, there were also multiple complementary receivers having their way with the secondary. Ryan Broyles (six catches, 126 yards) and tight ends Brandon Pettigrew and Tony Scheffler (a combined 13 catches for 131 yards) came through for Stafford. The Lions chose not to run much on Houston, but when they did with Mikel LeShoure and Joique Bell, their ground game was effective with 17 carries for 79 yards and two more TDs.

Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips likes to be unrelenting in his blitzes, but that works consistently only if two things happen.

— First, Phillips counts on his Texans stopping the run on early downs to put quarterbacks in obvious passing situations.

— Second, he must trust someone in single coverage against a top receiver — such as Joseph would have been on Calvin Johnson — when he sends in extra pass rushers.

It's become granted that stud defensive end J.J. Watt with his sacks (three more against the Lions) and swats will come through every week, no matter how much blocking attention he gets. But looking at the Lions' yardage total, great production from one man isn't enough to slow the other 10 defenders. For Phillips, the challenge is adjusting his mind-set given the current adversity with his personnel.

Connor Barwin had a key fourth-quarter pressure against the Lions, but he hasn't been there as a complementary pass rusher to Watt. It's been the same case for fellow outside linebacker Brooks Reed, who complicated matters by leaving the game early with a groin injury. Not having Joseph tested the secondary's limited depth, and the Texans simply didn't have enough men to handle all of Stafford's receiving weapons.

The Texans have been doing well to hold up against the run without powerful inside linebacker Brian Cushing, who was lost for the season after tearing the ACL in his left knee in Week 5. The Jaguars and Lions, teams not known for running effectively this season, had success balancing their offenses. Not having Cushing roam the middle also opens easy throws on quicker tight end routes.

Phillips, one of the smartest defensive minds the game has seen, adjusted well late against the Lions to facilitate the comeback. He didn't pull back the blitzes, but made sure Calvin Johnson was blanketed in the second half. Phillips helped his defensive backs by having them play tighter, more physical coverage early in routes, so the rush could get to Stafford before he could burn the Texans downfield.

Still, you can bet Philips will be concerned with how his group has played, especially with a game against Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in Week 14 and knowing his team probably will also need to get through Peyton Manning's Denver Broncos again to get to the Super Bowl.

With 10 days to prepare for the Tennessee Titans, Philips will hope that Joseph and Reed can return to the lineup, and will also see ways to help his unit maintain the edge it had in the season's first half.

The Texans' second-half offensive prowess buys the defense the time to recover, but that defense must get back to dominating if Houston hopes to win the AFC.